Two people have been arrested in last week’s cow-napping, a case which has taken a strange twist.

Ahmed Mahmoud, who owns the 49 cows that were stolen from a communal farm he rented on Old Fall River Road, said his landlord was one of the people involved in the theft.

A New Bedford man and a juvenile have been charged.

Dartmouth Police Chief Timothy Lee told The Herald News that police arrested Jordan Rebello, 19, of New Bedford, and the juvenile on Monday morning. Lee did not want to say if the juvenile was a family member of the farm owners.

Both males were charged with breaking and entering, larceny over $250 and destruction of property.

Mahmoud gave The Herald News a copy of the invoice from New Holland Sales Stables, Inc. in New Holland, Pa., where 38 of the 49 cows were taken and sold. The invoice states that the cows were from Robinson’s Livestock, 343 Hixville Road and 383 Hixville Road, Dartmouth. Mahmoud said they also own the farm where he rented with several other tenants.

“I’m renting land from him,” Mahmoud said. “I’ve done business with him.”

Mahmoud said he’s purchased cattle from the juvenile who is a cattle dealer. Mahmoud said he’s always paid and does not owe any money.

A phone number for Robinson’s Livestock could not be located.

The 49 cows herded and stolen from the communal farm on Old Fall River Road were “badly roughed up,” according to Mahmoud.

Mahmoud told The Herald News that five of the cows had to be sent to slaughter because of their injuries. One could barely stand. Another cow, called Panda, that is a favorite of Mahmoud’s grandson, has numerous broken ribs, is on pain killers and antibiotics and may have to be put down.

None of the cows have been returned to Mahmoud. He said all are in quarantine.

Mahmoud, a contractor in New Bedford, said he’s been farming for about a year. In a planned move, he left the Robinson farm on Sept. 3 for a farm in Westport.

Of the 49 cows stolen, 38 were trucked to New Holland Sales Stables in New Holland, Pa. Nine were taken to a farm in Medway. One cow is missing.

He said he can’t begin to imagine how much money has been lost. The herd was worth $50,000, plus lost work and other expenses.

Mahmoud said the thieves must be held accountable for their crime.

“They broke in the barn, came in the middle of the night and stole the cows,” Mahmoud said. “That’s grand theft.”

Lee told The Herald News that police knew all along who stole the cows, but needed to build a case before an arrest was made.